The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

"If he's properly nurtured, I believe he'll carry out the Will of Fire just as you hope."

Watching Hibari Kabutomaru get knocked down by Asuma's three punches, Namikaze Minato offered heartfelt praise.

"Hahaha, that would be for the best."

Hiruzen chuckled a few times, no longer watching the situation on the training ground. Instead, he turned and sat back in his seat.

Seeing Hiruzen's movement, Minato straightened up, knowing the other man was likely about to say something important.

"Your teacher, that Jiraiya fellow—have you heard anything from him recently?"

Hiruzen's first question was about Jiraiya's whereabouts.

All three of his students were troublesome in their own ways.

Especially Jiraiya—never staying in the village, always wandering under the excuse of "seeking inspiration," peeping all over the ninja world.

And he never even tried to hide his identity.

Everyone in the ninja world knew Jiraiya was Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple. Every time he got caught peeping, it tarnished his master's reputation!

Even worse, he got to see all that and Hiruzen didn't see a single thing! His own disciple enjoying all those sights while he...

"Ahem." Hiruzen, lost in lecherous thoughts, suddenly remembered he wasn't alone and quickly suppressed his emotions, instinctively turning his head away, afraid Minato would see the blush on his face.

"He sent word a while ago, said he was scouting locations in the Land of Grass, but didn't specify where exactly," Minato reported truthfully.

"Is that so? As long as there's contact. You've probably noticed too—things have been unstable lately. I expect a major upheaval in the ninja world within the next five years. There's been a lot of movement from other villages. If you get the chance, tell that kid not to wander so much. If he has time, he should come back and visit this old man." Hiruzen put down his pipe and stared directly at Minato.

"Yes, Third-sama." Minato understood his meaning and half-knelt on the ground.

"Heh, get up. Didn't I say? I just called you here today for some casual talk." Seeing how obedient Minato was, Hiruzen chuckled and got up to help him up.

"So? Interested in leading a squad of students?" Hiruzen asked, seemingly offhandedly.

Lead a team?

Minato instinctively looked at Hiruzen.

Was the Hokage asking? Ordering? Or hinting at something?

"I'll follow your instructions." After weighing it carefully in his heart, Minato gave his answer.

To him, as long as he could uphold the Will of Fire, it didn't matter what position he worked in.

"Hahaha, didn't I say? Just a chat today. You're still young—if you do take on a squad, it won't be for a few more years. For now, just follow my orders. As for which team you'll be assigned to..."

Hiruzen hesitated a bit, then shook his head in front of Minato.

"We'll wait until the right person arrives."

In his eyes, since Minato was the lover of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, he had a corresponding responsibility.

Hiruzen himself was too busy to handle everything personally. Some matters had to be dealt with by Minato's real teacher.

Speaking of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki...

Hiruzen subconsciously thought of Danzō.

In terms of sealing techniques, apart from Kushina, only Danzō was truly accomplished in Konoha.

Unfortunately, Danzō always treated jinchūriki as strategic weapons.

They had clashed numerous times over the treatment of jinchūriki.

This stalemate had only started to ease with the arrival of Takeshi.

...

"Achoo!"

In Root headquarters, Danzō sneezed again during a briefing, spraying Gin's face.

Gin calmly wiped the mess from his face and asked "respectfully":

"Are you alright, Danzō-sama?"

"I'm fine." Danzō, not catching the undertone, waved his hand. "Go on."

"Yes. As per your orders, I made the 38th adjustment to the base lighting. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive."

Gin nodded and continued his report.

"Well done, Gin." Glancing out at the lighting, Danzō nodded with satisfaction, gaining new appreciation for Gin's execution capabilities.

"You've worked hard recently. I have a task I want to give you." In a rare moment of praise, Danzō prepared to assign Gin a new mission.

Upon hearing this, Gin immediately raised both hands, ready to receive a mission scroll like usual. But after waiting a while and feeling nothing, he looked up in confusion.

"This mission doesn't involve anything troublesome. All you have to do is take over the training of Takeshi in place of Aburame Ryōma and Yamanaka Akira." Danzō looked toward Ryōma and the others in the distance, clearly satisfied with Gin's attitude.

Although Nono was supervising, she was too gentle toward Takeshi. This would only make his son complacent. Danzō decided to send Gin—an average shinobi, not particularly important to Root—to take over.

"From today onward, remove your mask, return to your original name: Shimura Ikku. Go to Takeshi's side."

"Yes!" As Danzō finished speaking, Shimura Ikku removed his mask, revealing a youthful and delicate face.

...

"Hmph! So much for Class Three's elites—I just beat their so-called elite! Let's see what the old man has to say now!" Asuma's excited voice echoed from the dango shop.

Always overshadowed by Kakashi and Takeshi, Asuma had nearly lost his confidence. But in today's battle, he finally proved himself.

Not only did he knock out Hibari Kabutomaru with a few punches, he also fought Ayame Raidō and Yamashiro Aoba's pincer attack alone using just taijutsu.

Takeshi and Kakashi gladly relaxed nearby, tossing out tools and providing backup support.

[Hmph, I might not be able to beat Takeshi and Kakashi, but I can beat you guys at least!]

Asuma thought to himself.

Right now, he was far from the calm and collected adult he would later become. A small victory was enough to make him boast proudly.

Kurenai just smiled at him, saying nothing.

"Alright, Asuma, quit showing off. Compared to our Exploding Marbles Kid, you've got a long way to go." Takeshi raised his teacup and shouted in Asuma's direction.

"Bang!"

Hearing that, Hyūga Iroha slammed a fist on the table, ready to lunge at Takeshi.

"You jerk! It's all your fault—I can't even hold my head up in the Hyūga clan anymore, you know that?!" Recalling the clan's attitude since he earned her nickname, Hyūga Iroha completely lost it.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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